Meat-hanger.



L. P. FISHER.

MEAT HANGER.

urmoumn FILED we. 5, 1910.

998,286. Patented July-113, 1 9 11.

OOLUIIIA WRAP 60-, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI P. FISHER, OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE A. HORMEL & 00., OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

MEAT-HANGER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI P. FISHER, of Austin, Mower county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meat-Hangers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices designed for use in suspending meats during the process of treatment, such as the smoking of bacon and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a hanger whereon the meat can be readily suspended and as easily removed.

A further object is to provide a hanger which will be thoroughly sanitary, the parts inserted into the meat being capable of ready removal for substitution and repairs.

A. further object is to provide a. hanger of strong and durable construction and one which will be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention consists generally in a bar and teeth or pinsiremovabily mounted there-in.

Further the invention consists in an improved construction of the supporting bar or rail and the means for attaching the suspending device proper thereto.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a meat hanger embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a top View of the same, Fig. 8 is a transverse, sectional view.

In the drawing, 2 represents the middle or main portion of a rail or bar having forwardly turned ends 3 which are substantially at right angles to the middle portion of the bar. The rail is preferably composed of a solid piece of metal to impart the desired rigidity to the device, and to the extremities of the ends 3 a hanger proper, indicated by reference numeral 4, is attached, having a hook device 5. This hanger is secured by any suitable means to the rail 2, as by making sockets in the ends of the rail and securing the ends of the hanger therein. The middle portion of the rail is provided with a series of sockets 6 arranged preferably in pairs and adapted to receive the ends 7 of staples 8 which are thrust into the sockets 6 and bent forwardly, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that the ends 7 will lie in substantially the same plane, parallel with the plane of the rail 2. These teeth or pins are composed of any suitable material, preferably wire of suitable gage, the staples, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 5, 1910.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Serial No. 575,830.

well as the rail and hanger proper, being tinned or otherwise treated to resist the corroding action of the meat.

A device of this kind is used generally in suspending bacon, the teeth thrust into the meat until they contact with the rind and in this position the bacon is supported during the operation of curing. Generally in devices of this kind the teeth or pins which penetrate the meat are permanently fixed in the supporting rail or bar, and as these pins soon become rusted or corroded, it is often necessary to discard an entire hanger for sanitary reasons when the substitution of one or more new pins for those that a corroded would render the device practically as good as new. This feature of substitution and renewal I have embodied in this device, any one or all of the staples being removable from the supporting rail by bending the pins or teeth on the ends of the staples downwardly until they are substan tially in line with the part of the staples that passes through the sockets in the rail 2. By arranging the teeth in pairs, one pair on each staple, I am able to prevent the teeth from twisting or turning side-wise and interfering with the insertion of them into the meat. One tooth will brace the ad joining one on the same staple and bearing on the rail 2 will hold the teeth in parallel relation with one another even when they are subjected to a considerable strain. The diameter of the rail 2 is such that the ri gidity of the device is insured under all conditions and the position of attachment of the hanger proper to the rail provides for the proper degree of tilting and prevents the meat from slipping off the teeth, the strain being applied at points on each side of the load and transmitted directly to the hanger. Various sizes of wire may be employed and in many ways the details of con struction may be employed without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A meat hanger comprising a suspending means, a metallic rod having its ends bent forwardly at right angles substantially to its middle portion and secured to said suspending means, the portion of said rod between said ends having a series of vertical holes or sockets therein and teeth composed of U-shaped loops having their ends inserted into said sockets with the loop portions of said teeth resting on the top of said rail, the end portions of said teeth being bent forwardly at right angles substantially to the portions thereof fitting in said holes, and said end portions being parallel substantially with the forwardly turned ends of said rails and terminating at a point substantially opposite the extremities of said ends, said teeth being readily removable from said rail and the walls of the holes in said rail resisting end thrust of the teeth when the meat is hung thereon.

2. A meat hanger comprising a suspending means, a rod secured to said suspending means, said rod having a series of vertical holes or sockets therein and teeth composed of U-shaped loops having their ends inserted into said sockets with the loop portions of said teeth resting on the top of said rod and preventing horizontal oscillation of the teeth, the end portions of said teeth being bent forwardly at right angles substantially to the portions thereof fitting in said holes, the said end portions projecting toward the plane of said suspending means and at right angles substantially thereto, said teeth being readily removable from said rod and the walls of the holes in said rod resisting end thrust of the teeth when the meat is hung thereon.

3. A meat hanger comprising a suspending means, a rod secured to said suspending means, said rod having a series of substantially vertical holes or sockets therein, and teeth thrust into said holes and having bent portions bearing on the upper surface of said rod, and held thereby against horizontal oscillation, the portions of said teeth be low said rod being bent forwardly at right angles substantially to the. portions thereof 1 fitting in said holes, said teeth being readily removable independently of one another from said rod, the walls of the holes in said rod having comparatively long bearing surfaces on said teeth to resist end thrust. of 5 the teeth when the meat is hung thereon, and hold said teeth rigidly against vertical oscillation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of July 1910.

. LEVI l. FISHER. Vitnesses J G. BRAMI-IAM, E. M. DOANE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

